Businesses nervous about impact of La Grange project

James Noonan of Noonan Chiropractic Clinic, said the La Grange Road widening project will force him to move his sign and lose most of his front parking. (Ashley Rueff, Chicago Tribune)

UPDATE: The Illinois Department of Transportation announced today that work scheduled to begin on La Grange Road May 1 has been pushed back to the week of May 6. The work is being done in preparation for the La Grange Road widening project and includes median removal and the construction of temporary pavements. The pre-construction phase is expected to be completed by the end of July, and the widening phase is expected to begin by mid- to late-summer.

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As the prep work for the massive La Grange Road widening project gets underway from Orland Park to Tinley Park this week, some business owners are expressing concerns about detoured traffic while officials detail their plans to minimize disruptions.

The Illinois Department of Transportation began a pre-construction phase for the six-mile long project on Wednesday. Contractor D Construction is removing trees and medians along the construction route, from 131st Street on the north to 179th Street on the south. Temporary pavements will also be constructed and drainage improvements made all in preparation for the expansion.

"This is really what we call advance work in anticipation of that bigger work coming," said Karie Friling, Orland Park's director of development services.

The project will turn La Grange into a six-lane thoroughfare with a barrier median and double turn lanes at most intersections.

Officials say the two-year constriction phase is likely to begin by mid- to late-summer, but some temporary lane closures will start this week as crews continue utility relocations and complete prep work.

Some business owners along the roadway have expressed concerns about how the project will affect traffic. Jim Arvanitis, owner of Southfork Family Restaurant, 14631 S. La Grange Road, said he is worried motorists will avoid the construction area, which would reduce the amount of traffic that passes by his front door.

"It's going to be a mess," he said with a laugh. "You don't want to be in my place."

He said improving the corridor will eventually be good for Orland Park, but he is worried about what the long construction period could mean for his bottom line. Orland Park officials have been communicating with him, he said, and appear to be working hard to accommodate area businesses.

"They're concerned too, you know," he said. "They don't want any place to be closed."

To make way for the road widening, Arvanitis said he will have to give up a little of his property, but he'll only lose some landscaping.

Some businesses have more on the line, however.

James Noonan of Noonan Chiropractic Clinic, 14340 S. La Grange Road, said he is going to lose most of the parking in front of his office and will also need to move his sign.

He owns 25 percent of the building where his practice is located, and he will be paid for the property, but he is concerned that the loss of space will make it more challenging for patients to come and go. Some canceled appointments during the 143rd Street intersection project because they said it was too difficult to turn into his parking lot, and he is afraid they'll cancel again.

"This has been on my mind for years," he said, adding that he has delayed remodeling his office because he wasn't sure how the project would affect him.

"The possibilities are that I would have to move," he said.

Orland Park officials said they were working to communicate with businesses about the project and they'll continue to be updated as it moves forward. Friling said it's important for residents and businesses to know that during the entirety of the project, there will continue to be four open lanes of traffic.

"The goal is always to have still what we have today, " she said. "That's where I think most of the fear comes in with our businesses and people who visit Orland."

Now that the prep work has started, drivers should expect nighttime and daytime work with some temporary lane closures. To help mitigate traffic congestion, Orland Park officials said lane closures won't be allowed between 2:30 p.m. and 6 p.m. on weekdays.

IDOT has also agreed to halt pavement work during the holiday season when traffic on the retail corridor is the busiest.

Tinley Park officials plan to work with IDOT to assist local businesses during the construction process. Village manager Scott Niehaus said the village is expecting certain inconveniences to arise.

"We anticipate detours causing an increase of traffic on other roads in the area," Niehaus explained in an email. "We also expect complaints on noise and dust. Lastly, we do intend to work closely with IDOT to assist our businesses on (LaGrange) so that patrons can get there safely."

IDOT spokesman Mike Claffey said during construction, a center turn lane will also be available for left turns and business access. Some intersecting streets will be closed intermittently during the project, but those closures will be communicated ahead of time and will not occur at adjacent streets.

IDOT is asking motorists to be patient during construction, and Claffey said if it makes sense for their trip, they should use an alternate route.

"We want folks to bear with us through the construction phase," he said. "When people see the finished product, we think they're going to be very pleased."

IDOT is predicting the project will last through the middle of the 2015 summer. The total construction cost is estimated at about $95 million, Claffey said.